Ganso completes Sao Paulo switch

Ganso, 22, had been strongly linked with a move to Europe after breaking through, but Sao Paulo began negotiations for the attacking midfielder after agreeing to sell Lucas Moura to Paris Saint-Germain.

Sao Paulo's director of football Adalberto Baptista said on the club's official website: "Ganso demonstrated throughout the negotiations that he wanted to represent Sao Paulo, was willing to make significant sacrifices and was firm in what he wanted to do.

"Had he not pushed for the move, we would have given up, but the more we have talked about it then the more we have become convinced he was the right player, with the right profile for Sao Paulo. His desire was decisive and today, we have immeasurable joy that he is with us.

"He is a player who will give us a lot. In the last five or six years, he, Neymar and Lucas [Moura] are undoubtedly the best players to have emerged from this country. With the sale of Lucas, and Neymar staying with Santos, the only player who could meet our needs was Ganso."

Sao Paulo have acquired a minority of the player's rights, with the majority remaining with investment company DIS.